On Friday last, Independent People with Disabilities, the sole democratic, independent, grass roots, cross disability body to represent and advocate on behalf of “all people with disabilities” in Westmeath, Roscommon and Longford, took part in the annual Make Way Day for 202, bringing issues of relevant concern to the attention of the local authority.
“We are very much aware of the many obstacles that people with disabilities face on a daily basis between having to try and navigate between bins and beer barrels being left on the side of the footpaths which all too often are limited in their width.
“Young people can also help by making sure that their bicycles are secured safely to lamp posts and that they do not fall down. This is another very serious issue where the person with vision impairments has to negotiate and can be very hazardous for them and the person in the wheelchair who has to navigate the already narrow footpaths and may have to get on to the busy roadways to avoid such obstacles.
“We recognise the need for the hospitality industry to keep their businesses open in these times of continuing uncertainty due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but we would ask that consideration is given to the person who is in a wheelchair or the person who is visually impaired that they can move around freely.
“Finally, we would appeal to the public to be aware that whenever you block a footpath you are putting a person with a disability in very serious danger by making them go out onto busy roadways because the footpath which is designed for easy access is blocked by obstacles,” Mr Dermot Hope, Disability Information and Development Worker, stated this week
